Torsionally resilient coupling



TORSIONALLY RESILIENT COUPLING Filed Aug. 6, 1949 :Snventor WHA rez R .5c-NM1 rre-2.

Bg WPWMM` Gttorneg Patented Oct. 19, 1954 TORSIONALLY RESILIENT COUPLING Walter P. Schmitter, Wauwatosa, Wis., assignor to The Falk Corporation, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application August 6, 1949, Serial No. 109,039

6 Claims.

This invention relates to couplings and particularly to flexible couplings of the torsionally resilient type.

One object of the present invention is to provide a flexible coupling having an exceptionally high degree of torsional resilience.

Another object is to provide a torsionally resilient flexible coupling which may be utilized to automatically deenergize the driving motor in the event of overload.

Other more specific objects and yadvantages will appear, expressed or implied, from the following description of a coupling constructed in accordance with the present invention.

The single figure of the drawing is a view, part in longitudinal section and part in elevation, of a coupling embodying the present invention.

The coupling shown comprises a pair of elongated hubs I Il and II, respectively keyed to the adjacent ends of substantially aligned shafts I2 and I3, and an encircling lubricant-retainer housing I4 in toothed engagement with both hubs to form a flexible driving connection therebetween. In this instance each hub is provided with a circular series of teeth I5 or I6 formed on a longitudinally extended portion I'I of a collar I8 on the hub, each series of teeth being engaged with a corresponding series of internal teeth I9 or 20 formed within each end 0f the housing I4.

The faces of the hub teeth I5 and I6 are preferably slightly crowned in a well known manner to permit a limited free tilting action of the housing I4 with respect thereto, so as to provide the lateral flexibility necessary to accommodate shaft misalignment while maintaining a positive driving engagement between the intermeshing teeth.

The housing Int is shown transversely split into two sections 2l and 22 which are rigidly but separately joined by suitable means, such as bolts 23. The housing is closed by end walls 24 preferably provided with inturned flanges 25, each positioned to underlie the extended portion Il of the adjacent hub collar I8 in a manner to discourage escape of lubricant from the housing. The clearance space between each wall iiange 25 and the adjacent hub may be sealed by appropriate means such as an oilite ring 2G slidably iitted on the hub and having a spherical surface in close contact with a concave mating surface on the wall ange. Each ring 26 is preferably normally disposed within the plane of one of the sets of hub teeth I5 or I6.

In the coupling shown the housing Ill is movable lengthwise, the teeth I9 and 2o therein being extended to maintain engagement with the hub teeth I5 and I6 in all positions of the housing. This movability of the housing is utilized to render the coupling torsionally resilient, and for this purpose provision is made for imposing an end thrust on the housing in response to the torque load thereon and for resiliently resisting housing movement induced by such thrust. In this instance the desired torque-responsive end thrust is effected by a helical arrangement of the teeth 20 and It, and the resultant housing movement is resisted by 'a suitable spring arrangement preferably disposed between the housing I4 and hub II.

The spring arrangement shown is double-acting in that it functions to resist lengthwise movement of the housing Iii in either direction from the intermediate position shown. It comprises one or more compression springs 2'I caged between a pair of floating rings 28 and 29 loosely encircling the hub II and axially conned between the collar I8 and a split stop ring 30 on the hub. The rings 28 and 29 are also axially conlined between an internal shoulder 3| on the housing section 2| and a similar shoulder 32 on the housing section 22.

The arrangement is such that whenever the torque reaction between the hub teeth I6 and housing teeth 20 is in a direction to force the housing I4 toward the left from the position shown, the housing shoulder 32 forces the ring 29 toward the left against the resistance of the spring 21, the spring reaction being sustained by the other ring 28 and ultimately by the stop ring 39 on the hub I I against which the ring 28 is then engaged; and whenever the torque reaction between the teeth I6 and 2l) is in a direction to force the housing toward the right, the housing shoulder 3| forces the ring 28 toward the right against the resistance of the spring 2l, the spring reaction then being sustained by the ring 29 and ultimateiy by the collar I8 on hub II against which the ring 29 is then engaged. It will thus be noted that, regardless of the direction, the end thrust imposed on the housing Ill by the hub II is resisted by the spring 2l and that the resistance of the spring is sustained by the same hub II, so that there is no resulting end thrust imposed on either of the shafts I3 or I2.

The housing teeth I5 and hub teeth I9 are preferably straight rather than helical in order to avoid imposing an end thrust on either shaft.,

In the coupling shown those contacting surfaces on the shoulder 3I and the spring retainer ring 28 are preferably substantially spherical and concentric with respect to that ring 2B which is encircled by the hub teeth I6, and the contacting surfaces on the shoulder 32 and on the spring retainer ring 29 are also preferably substantially spherical and concentric with respect to that ring 26 which is encircled by the hub teeth I5, so Vas to accommodate a limited free tilting action of the housing I4 about either of said centers with a minimum disturbance toifthe'spring retainer rings.

From the foregoing it will of course be understood that the lengthwise movement of the housing I4, induced by the reaction-between-:the -helical teeth I 6 and 20 and resisted by the spring 21, is responsive to the torque load imposed-on the coupling. rI'his movement maybe advantageously utilized to automatically limit the torque load so as to avoid excessive overload fand -Yconsequent damage to the coupling or to mechanism with which it is connected. For instance, when the coupling is employed to connect an electric motor to mechanism driven thereby, va suitable motor stop switch may be provided ffor ractuation by lengthwise movement of thehousing I4 Vso as to deenergize the motor when the torque attains a predetermined value. A conventional stop switch for this purpose is indicated at/33.

'The switch 33 is preferably a normally closed snap switch of any known -or approved type mounted on a suitable bracket 34 and having a control element 435 operable to open the same, the latter being disposed within the path of lengthwise travel of the coupling housing I4. The arrangement is such that, as the housing I'4 moves toward the element 35 under increasing torque loads, it ultimately engages and actuates the same to open the switch 3`3 iand to thereby stop the motor whenever the torque `reaches a `predetermined maximum.

Various changes may be made in the embodiment of the invention hereinabove specifically described without departing from rone sacrificing the advantages of the invention as defined inthe appended claims.

I claim:

1. A power coupling comprising driving Aand driven rotary coupling members, a lengthwise movable connector member, separate laterally flexible driving vconnections between each o'f said coupling members and said connector member, said flexible driving connections cooperating with said connector member to accommodate both parallel and angular misalignment between said coupling members, one of said flexible driving connections comprising intermes'hing teeth on said connector member and one of said coupling members, said intermeshing teeth having inclined faces reacting under the transmitted torque to impose an end thrust on said connector member, and resilient means reacting on said last mentioned coupling member and on said connector member to sustain the end thrust imposed on the latter.

2. A power coupling comprising driving and driven coupling members, a lengthwise movable connector member, separate laterally flexible driving connections between each of said coupling members and said connector member, said flexible driving connections cooperating with said connector member to accommodate both parallel and angular misalignment vbetween'sai'd coupling members, one of said exible driving connections including means reacting under the torque load to impose an end thrust on -said connector member in one direction Yor the otherdependent upon vthe 'direction of "operation, Vand `a caged resilient means operable to sustain the end thrust imposed on said connector member in either direction of operation.

3. A power coupling comprising driving and driven rotary coupling members, a lengthwise movable connector member, separate laterally exible driving connections between each of said coupling .members and :said connector Jmember, Vsaid flexible driving connections cooperating with said connector member to accommodate both parallel and angular misalignment between said #coupling members, one of said flexible driving connections including torque responsive means imposing anend ithrust on said connector member :in one direction or another dependent on 'the vdirection of operation, resilient means for tsustaining the iend thrust thus imposed, means for .transmitting from said connector member to said resilient means an end thrust in one direction, and means for transmitting from said connector :member 'to said `resil-ient means an `end thrust inan opposite direction.

4. A power coupling comprising vdriving and driven coupling members, la lengthwise movable connector member, separate torque -transmitting connections between Isaid *coupling members and connector member, each Jo'ffsaid .torque 'transmitting connections "'-bein'g llaterally iiexible -to accommodatemi-salignmentfbetweensaidcoupling members, one of said torque Itransmitting connections including torque lresponsive ymeans for imposing anend thru's't=onsaid y'connector -member 'in one direction-'or the-other dependent -on the direction of operation, resilient `means ffor sustaining v'said `end fthrust, @means for transmittingfrom said'-connector"member to vlsaid resilient means an end-thrustin-onefdirection, and'me'ans for transmitting fr'om said-connector member to said'res'ili'ent meansan-fend thrust in an opposite direction.

5. SA rpower coupling Icomprising driving and driven members each havinga oircularvset Iof teeth thereon, a torque @transmitting `v`connector having Aa cir'cularse't o'f teethlcoacting with -said teeth on said driving 'member to provide a laterally exible torque 'transmitting connection therebetween, said connector Y-having a second set fof `teeth Ycoa'ctin'g with said teeth on :said driven member to -provide Ta Ylaterally :flexible torque transmitting connection therebetween, whereby said connectoris'free to I'oatin-a manner to accommodate parallel and angular misalignment 'between -said lmerri'bers, 'the teeth on one -of said `members y'having "faces kinclined so as to impose alongitudinal thrust on A'said "connector in response to the torque transmitted thereby, and resilient means 'reacting von said connector and onsaid vlast mentioned member'toyi'eldably resist the 'longitudinal 'thrust imposed on said connector and vto lcounteract the lreaction thrust on-said last named member.

6. A power coupling comprising driving land driven coupling members, a vvtorque transmitting connecton'a laterally ilexible drivingconnection between said driving member `and said connector, a laterally flexible driving connection between said connector and said driven member, whereby said connector is free v'to iioatina manner tofaccommodate parallel and 'angular misalignment between said -driving and driven fmembers, one of said flexible driving connections `including torque responsive means for *imposing Ya longitudinal'thrust on -said connector in either -oftwo directions'and means foryieldably'resistin'g said thrust regardless of @the direction thereof,

last named means including a pair of axially spaced thrust transmitting rings, thrust sustaining resilient means axially confined by and between said rings, stop means on said connector coasting with said rings to limit the spacing thereof, and additional stop means on one of said members coasting with said rings to limit the spacing thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Number Name Date 1,385,803 Stone July 26, 1921 1,550,753 Sneed Aug. 25, 1925 1,631,196 Froesch June 7, 1927 1,996,311 Tremolada Apr. 2, 1935 2,021,718 Fast Nov. 19, 1935 2,209,155 Fagg July 23, 1940 2,403,389 Morey July 2, 1946 OTHER REFERENCES Fasts'-Self-Aligning Coupling, Catalog No. 47, Koppers C'o., Inc., Fast Coupling Department, Baltimore 3, Maryland (page 8). 

